Steaming and pressing iron



@fic 4;, 194 9. GREEN AL 2,483,58fi

STEAMING AND PRESSING IRON Filed June 14, 1945 WATER LEVEL MM 0a. 4, 1949 STEAMING AND rnnssme IRON William G. Green, Jenks, and Herbert E. Galloway, Tulsa, Okla.; said Galloway assignor to Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,416

6 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates .to pressing irons, and has for its object the provision of an improved pressing iron, so arranged that it may be used to generate steam for use as a steam iron, or may be used as a conventional dry iron.

More particularly, this invention relates to a steam iron provided with a water reservoir and steam generating chamber, and contemplates the provision of a steam iron of this character hav ng an improved organization of parts. This 1mproved organization of parts includes suitable means of controlling the character of the iron during use, whereby it may be used as a steam iron or a dry iron. Irons of this type eliminate the need of preliminary sprinkling or the use of a damp cloth during pressing operations.

Pressing irons of this type should, to be capable of eflicient use, he provided with some means of controlling the flow of steam, in order that the article being pressed may not be subjected to a continuous flow of damp steam, especially when it is desirable to finish "dry. One object of the present invention, therefore, is to rovide a means of directing the flow of steam through a superheater for the purpose of drying the damp steam before emission, by means of an integral valve construction controllable by means of an operating element arranged in convenient relation with respect to the handle of the iron.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a construction that will prevent water or damp steam from flowing out of the iron upon the article being pressed.

Another object is the construction of an iron which will be simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and appended claims, and to the accompanying drawing, wherein'the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a pressing and steaming iron embodying the present invention;

' and Fig. 2 is a top fragmentary view in order to illustrate the water filler opening for the pressing iron of Fig. 1.

As shown in the enclosed drawing, the electric iron illustrating the principles of this invention, is comprised exteriorly of a handle 10, a body II, and a sole plate or pressing surface l2. The body I I l is made up of a shell l3, and a bottom plate I 4,

and contains within itself a water chamber l5 and a steam dome or chamber I6 operatively separated'by a baffle plate I! and a splash shield l8, and a superheater chamber l9, operatively separated by the superheater shell 20. These parts are manufactured by stamping and forming from sheet metal, for instance, stainless steel, assembled in position by welding or other means which will make steam and water tight joints where necessary.

Extending upwardly from the superheater shell 20 and through the baflle plate I1, is the superheater steam supply tube 2|. Extending upwardly through the bottom plate H, the superheater shell 20, and the baflle plate I! is the combination steaming tube and fastening stud 22.

The sole plate I2 is secured to the body I l forwardly by means of the combined fastening nut and steam port 23, which seats against a prepared surface in the soleplate and fastensto the lower portion of the combined steam tube and fastening stud 22 by means of a screw thread 24, thus drawin the parts into the proper relationship.

and there securing them. Rearwardly the sole plate l2 and body H are secured together by means of the two screws 25, 26 fitting through punched or drilled holes 21, 28 in the body H and into tapped holes 29, 30 in the sole plate I2.

The handle [0, is preferably moulded in one piece of some one of the plastic materials, such as Ethocel, Tenite, or similar product, and having the forwardly depending portion made hollow to house a part of the steam controlling mechanism, and the rearwardly depending portions made hollow and provided with a closure 3| to permit installation of the electric cord 32. The installation and connections of thiscord are made in a manner known to the art and need not be further described here. I

In the top forward part of the shell i3, and directly under the hollow forwardly depending portion of the handle 10, is a flexible diaphragm 33 preferably made of thin corrugated metal such as brass and preferably secured in place by spinning, the other types of diaphragms and means of securing in place may be used. Through the center of and securely fastened to the diaphragm passes the stem of the steam controllin needle valve 34. The lower end of this needle valve stem 34 is so shaped that it may firmly and tightly seat in the upper end of the steam tube 22, which is so shaped that a steamtight closure is formed when the corresponding ends of the stem 34, and the tube 22 are brought into intimate contact.

Thestem 84 passes upwardly through a hole in the springplate 35 and through the hole 36 in the upper part of the handle, terminating in athumb piece 31,

- Spring plate 35, is set against a shoulder in the hollow forwardly depending portion of the handle 1 Ill and is held in place by the retaining screws 38 and 39. Above the plate is a return spring 40,

which is slidingly coiled around the stem 34, and

bears against the spring plate 35 and a pin 4| driven through the stem 34.

Between the bottom plate I4 of the body H and the sole plate l2 in a space provided, is the heating means, for instance an electrical resistance coil 42. Such coils and their methods of operation are well known to the art and need not be here described.

, The operation of the iron may be described as follows:

Water is introduced in the water chamber [5 through the filler hole 43, which is then closed by means of the screw plug 44 and gasket 45. Heat is 'then applied, by means previously described, and the water brought to the boiling point, gencrating steam, which collects in the steam dome It. To dampen and iron an article,the thumb piece of the needle valve 34 is lifted up, thereby allowing steam to pass down through the tube 22 and the ports in the nut 23, and thence to the article being ironed, thus dampening while ironing, and securing the effect of steaming. For finish ironing, the thumb-piece 31' is depressed, thereby seating stem 34in tube 22 and stopping the flow of steam through tube 22. The steam, however, must escape somewhere, and therefore now travels down the superheater tube 2 l to the superheater chamber IS. The bottom of the superheater chamber [9 being hot and dry by reason of close association with the heating means causes the damp steam to instantly flash into dry superheated steam. The dry and superheated steam passes through the openings in the collar 46 and through holes 41 into the lower part of the steam tube 22 and the ports in the nut 23, and

out upon the article'being ironed. The superheated steam, of course, must not be too hot, lest it should scorch the article being ironed. This object may be achieved by several means, but preferably by limiting the size of the superheater chamber I 9 as may be found desirable, and thereby limiting the amount of superheat that may be introduced.

While we have shown and described a particular embodiment of our invention, it will be obvious ,erating chamber arranged in heat transfer relationship with said heating means; means defining a steam superheating chamber arranged in heat transfer relationship with said heating means and communicating with said opening to discharge superheated steam therethrough, a first elongated tubular member connecting said steam generating chamber with said opening to discharge wet steam through said opening, a second elongated tubular member connecting said steam chamber and said superheating chamber to transmit steam from said'steam chamber to said superheating chamber for drying and thence through said opening to the material to be pressed, and valve means cooperating with at least one of said tubular members for causing steam generated in said steam chamber to be discharged through said openi either directly through said first tubular member or through said second tubular member and said superheating chamber. i

2. A steaming and pressing iron comprising a sole plate provided with at least one discharge opening for discharging. steam intothe material to be pressed, means for heating said sole plate,

structural means defining a liquid storage and steam generating chamber arranged in heat transfer relationship with said heating means,

means defining a steam superheating chamber arranged in heat transfer relationship with said heatin means, a first elongated tubular member extending through said superheating chamber and connectingsaid steam generating chamber with said discharge opening to discharge wet steam through said opening, said tubular member having at least one opening through the wall thereof disposed in said superheating chamber to conduct superheated steam from said superheating chamber to said discharge opening, a second tubular member connecting said steam chamber and said superheating chamber to transmit steam from said steam chamber to said superheating chamber for drying and thence through said openings to the material to be pressed, and valve means cooperating with at least one of said tubular members for causing steam generated in'said steam chamber selectively to be discharged through said discharge opening either directly through said first tubular member or through said second tubular member, said superheating chamber and the wall opening in said first tubular member.

3. A steaming and pressing iron comprising a sole plate provided with at least one discharge opening for discharging steam into the material to be pressed, means for heating said sole plate, structural means defining a liquid storage and steam generating chamber arranged in heat transfer relationship with said heating means, means defining a steam superheating chamber arranged in heat transfer relationship with said heating means, a first elongated tubular member extending through said superheatin chamber and connecting said steam generating chamber with said discharge opening to discharge wet steam through said opening, said tubular member having at least one opening through the wall thereof disposed in said superheating chamber to conduct superheated steam from said superheating chamber to said discharge opening, a second tubular member connecting said steam chamber and said superheating chamber to transmit steam from said steam chamber to said superheating chamber for drying and thence through said openings to the material to be pressed, the resistance to fluid flow aiforded by said second tubular member, saidsupei'heating chamber and the wall opening in said first tubular member being greater than the resistance to fluid flow afforded by said first tubular member, whereby wet steam is normally delivered to said discharge opening directly from said steam chamber, and valve means selectively operable to block the admission of steam to said first tubular member, thereby to force steam generated in said steam chamber to be discharged through said discharge opening over a path which includes said second tubular member, said superheating chamber and the wall opening in said first tubular member.

4. A steam iron comprising a sole plate having means defining an opening for discharging steam onto material to be pressed, heating means for heating said sole plate, a body member comprising a liquid storage and steam chamber disposed in heat transfer relationship with said sole plate, a superheater chamber in close proximity to said heating means and connected to said opening for discharging superheated dry steam through said opening to the material to be pressed, an elongated tubular connecting member for connecting said steam chamber with said opening to permit wet steam to pass from the steam chamber through said opening to the material to be pressed,-another elongated tubular member interconnecting said steam chamber with said suthrough said one tubular member and thus block the passage of steam directly through said passageway onto the material to be pressed and forcing the steam to pass through the other tubular member into the superheater chamber and thence to the material to be pressed.

5. A steaming and pressing iron comprising a sole plate provided with at least one opening for discharging steam ontothe material to be pressed,

heating means for said sole plate, means defining a liquid storage chamber disposed in heat transfer relationship with said heating means and said sole plate, a steam chamber disposed in said liquid storage chamber causing wet steam to collect in said steam chamber, a superheating chamber in good heat transfer relationship with said sole plate and operative to convert wet steam from said steam chamber into dry steam, and means for selectively transmitting steam from said steam chamber through said opening either directly from said steam chamber in wet form or after operation of said superheating means to convert the wet steam into dry steam. 6. A steaming and pressing iron comprising a sole plate provided with at least one opening for discharging steam onto the material to be pressed, heating means for said sole plate, means defining a liquid storage chamber disposed in heat transfer relationship with said heating means and said sole plate, a steam chamber disposed in said liquid storage chamber, means defining a steam superheating chamber also disposed in said liquid storage chamber and in good heat transfer relationship with said heating means, and means for selectively discharging steam from said steam chamber either directly through said opening or through said superheating chamber and then through said opening.

WILLIAM G. GREEN. HERBERT E. GALLOWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 979,844 Grever Dec. 27, 1910 2,188,011 Miller Jan. 23, 1940 2,279,215 Theilgaard Apr. '7, 1942 2,323,225 Ledbetter June 29, 1943 

